Land available for expressway, says Srikantaiah

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, DEC. 29. The Revenue Minister, Mr. H.C. Srikantaiah, does not foresee any problems with regard to the acquisition of the thousands of acres of land required for the proposed Bangalore-Mysore expressway project.

Speaking to presspersons on Friday, Mr. Srikantaiah even claimed that the owners of agricultural land notified for acquisition were in fact eager to part with their properties for the project.

The expressway, or Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, will require over 21,000 acres of land, most of which is agricultural, in Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Mandya and Mysore districts. There is strong opposition to the project from the farmers and their organisations, environmentalists and others. An alternative second railway corridor project which will not destroy any lands, has been mooted by some.

Mr. Srikantaiah said that so far nobody had approached the courts opposing the acquisition of land, and it could be taken to mean that the farmers were agreeable to part with their lands. He could not say as to how many objections had been received by the special deputy commissioner appointed to acquire the lands from the agriculturists whose properties had been notified.

It may be mentioned that some months ago, the official had claimed at a public hearing on the project in the City that he had not received any objections. Some of those who participated in the hearing had questioned his claims.

According to the Revenue Minister, the rise in property values along the existing Bangalore-Mysore highway following the taking up of private housing projects had prompted the farmers to agree to part with their lands. He could not indicate the compensation fixed for the lands to be acquired nor as to when it would be paid.

However, Mr. Srikantaiah came out with the startling statement that compensation was yet to be paid even to those farmers in his own Hassan District whose lands were acquired for the Hemavathi and Yagachi irrigation projects over two decades ago. He thereby implied that delays in paying compensation was not unusual with his department.

About the fate of the landless agricultural labourers dependent on the lands which were to be acquired for the Bangalore-Mysore expressway, the minister came out with the ready reply that they too would be compensated. He did not know if the private company which was to take up the expressway project had deposited any funds with the Government for acquiring the lands.

About providing relief to the people who had lost their properties on account of the rain havoc, Mr. Srikantaiah said that of the Rs. 54 crores earmarked by the Centre under the head of Calamity Relief, it had released Rs. 27 crores. However, the Centre had not responded to the State's plea for an assistance of Rs. 400 crores made some months ago. He noted that the Eleventh Finance Commission had abolished the Relief Fund.

The minister expected the stamp duty revenue to go up to Rs. 900 crores this year as against the Rs. 750 crores realised last year. A committee was going into the question of reducing the duty rates. It was also tackling the problem of undervaluation. He said that even today, 7,000 to 8,000 apartments in Bangalore, which had been sold by the promoters, were yet to be registered.

About the creation of new taluks, Mr. Srikantaiah said that no decision had been taken, except with regard to that of the Bangalore East taluk (announced by the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna). There were demands for creation of new taluks in districts such as Dakshina Kannada, he added.

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Section  : Southern States
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